Literary Publishing Legal Services

For Writers and Authors

Your story is your legacy. We advocate on your behalf to secure the strongest deal terms and protect your rights. WAM provides a variety of services to meet those aims including:

• Review and negotiation of your publishing agreements with traditional, university/academic, and hybrid publishers.
• Review and negotiation of literary representation agreements.
• Protection of your intellectual property through copyright registration, trademark guidance, and advisement on protecting your work from unauthorized use.
• Negotiation of book-to-film and television adaptation agreements including option-purchase, shopping, and adaptation agreements.
• Advisement and negotiation of subsidiary and merchandising rights terms including, without limitation, audiobooks, foreign translations, and interactive media.
• Drafting and setting clear terms for co-authored projects including, but not limited to, co-author agreements, ghostwriting agreements, illustrator agreements, and anthology contributor agreements.
• Navigating fair use and permissions and related copyright and content clearance concerns, including manuscript legal reviews, rights clearance, and copyright guidance.

For Agents and Managers

Literary agents and managers play a critical role in advocating for writers, and WAM can provide legal guidance to ensure you negotiate from a position of strength, including:

• Structuring author representation agreements that clearly define commission structures, rights, and responsibilities.
• Ensuring fair terms in your option-purchase, shopping, and adaptation agreements when pitching for film, television, or other media adaptations.
• Subsidiary and merchandising rights license review and negotiation.
• Drafting and negotiating terms and agreements for co-authored works
• General legal consultation and guidance on a range of industry-related concerns.